Stretching: Aim on versatility

You can extend anytime, any place. Just observe these tips to do it securely and effectively.

By Mayo Clinic Staff members

You know physical exercise is essential, but what about stretching? Does stretching take a back again seat to your physical exercise routine? Not so quickly.

Stretching may possibly assist you:

  • Boost your joint selection of motion
  • Boost your athletic efficiency
  • Lower your hazard of harm

Recognize why stretching can assist and how to extend the right way.

Benefits of stretching

Scientific studies about the rewards of stretching have had mixed benefits. Some investigate shows that stretching will not decrease muscle soreness soon after physical exercise, and other scientific tests clearly show that lengthening the muscle and keeping the extend quickly in advance of a dash may possibly a bit worsen efficiency.

Even so, investigate has proven that stretching can assist increase versatility, and, as a result, the selection of motion of your joints.

Improved versatility may possibly:

  • Boost your efficiency in physical routines
  • Lower your hazard of accidents
  • Assist your joints transfer by way of their full selection of motion
  • Empower your muscular tissues to do the job most effectively

Stretching also boosts blood move to the muscle. You may possibly discover to take pleasure in the ritual of stretching in advance of or soon after hitting the trail, ballet ground or soccer discipline.

Stretching necessities

In advance of you plunge into stretching, make guaranteed you do it securely and effectively. While you can extend anytime, any place, good method is key. Stretching improperly can in fact do a lot more harm than fantastic.

Use these tips to maintain stretching safe and sound:

  • You should not take into consideration stretching a warmup. You may possibly damage yourself if you extend chilly muscular tissues. In advance of stretching, warm up with light going for walks, jogging or biking at reduced depth for five to ten minutes. Even improved, extend soon after your workout when your muscular tissues are warm.

    Take into consideration skipping stretching in advance of an rigorous exercise, these types of as sprinting or monitor and discipline routines. Some investigate suggests that pre-occasion stretching may possibly in fact reduce efficiency. Study has also proven that stretching quickly in advance of an occasion weakens hamstring strength.

    Also, check out doing a “dynamic warmup.” A dynamic warmup consists of doing movements comparable to people in your activity or physical exercise at a reduced level, then gradually expanding the speed and depth as you warm up.

  • Strive for symmetry. Everyone’s genetics for versatility are a bit different. Alternatively than striving for the versatility of a dancer or gymnast, target on having equivalent versatility side to side (specially if you have a historical past of a former harm). Versatility that is not equivalent on both of those sides may possibly be a hazard factor for harm.

  • Aim on significant muscle teams. Focus your stretches on significant muscle teams these types of as your calves, thighs, hips, reduced back again, neck and shoulders. Make guaranteed that you extend both of those sides.

    Also extend muscular tissues and joints that you routinely use.

  • You should not bounce. Extend in a easy motion, without the need of bouncing. Bouncing as you extend can injure your muscle and in fact contribute to muscle tightness.
  • Keep your extend. Breathe typically and hold every extend for about thirty seconds in challenge spots, you may possibly have to have to hold for close to sixty seconds.
  • You should not intention for soreness. Hope to truly feel pressure while you happen to be stretching, not soreness. If it hurts, you’ve got pushed way too considerably. Again off to the level where you really don’t truly feel any soreness, then hold the extend.
  • Make stretches activity distinct. Some proof suggests that it’s practical to do stretches involving the muscular tissues utilised most in your activity or exercise. If you participate in soccer, for instance, extend your hamstrings as you happen to be a lot more vulnerable to hamstring strains.

  • Retain up with your stretching. Stretching can be time-consuming. But you can obtain the most rewards by stretching often, at minimum two to 3 occasions a week.

    Skipping standard stretching signifies you hazard dropping the probable rewards. For instance, if stretching assisted you improve your selection of motion, your selection of motion may possibly reduce yet again if you end stretching.

  • Carry motion into your stretching. Gentle movements, these types of as people in tai chi or yoga, can assist you be a lot more flexible in distinct movements. These sorts of workout routines can also assist decrease falls in more mature older people.

    Try to remember the “dynamic warmup”: If you happen to be heading to conduct a distinct exercise, these types of as a kick in martial arts or kicking a soccer ball, start off out slowly and at reduced depth to get your muscular tissues utilised to it. Then speed up gradually.

Know when to physical exercise caution

If you have a serious affliction or an harm, you might have to have to modify your stretching procedures. For case in point, if you now have a strained muscle, stretching it may possibly induce even more harm. Converse to your physician or physical therapist about the most suitable way to extend if you have any well being problems.

Also try to remember that stretching will not indicate you are unable to get hurt. Stretching, for instance, is not going to prevent an overuse harm.